The Kremlin spokesman stated that Russia’s goals in Ukraine remain unchanged following the third round of talks with Kiev. A Russian official described the negotiations as predictably difficult.

Following Wednesday’s talks, Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “That’s exactly why our armed forces are taking all necessary measures to establish buffer zones and, more importantly, to eliminate the military and paramilitary infrastructure of the Ukrainian regime.”

Turkey hosted the negotiations, and the two sides agreed to a prisoner swap. Overall, Moscow downplayed the success of the negotiations. 

“The third round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations was predictably difficult and by far not merely technical. It was clear from the very beginning that the sides will continue efforts toward a peace agreement, without any breakthroughs,” explained Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the international committee of the Duma. “As Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky said, the positions of the sides are far from being close, but dialogue continues.”

President Zelensky said the Ukrainian delegation proposed an unconditional ceasefire. Moscow has a longstanding refusal to a ceasefire unless a deal to end the war is nearly completed. Zelensky said Moscow’s refusal of the ceasefire should lead to new sanctions on Russia. 

“Russia continues its terror and obstructs diplomacy, which is why it deserves full-scale sanctions responses, as well as our strikes on their logistics, their military bases, and their military production facilities,” he wrote on X. 

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose secondary tariffs on countries that do business with Russia if Moscow does not end the war by the end of August.